Blood tests questions

[Whatcouldpossiblygowrong]

Hi
Don’t know if anyone can help but here goes anyway.
Did that thing of having dr alignment and not asking the Qs I should have asked!
Long story short I have long term symptoms of fatigue, raised glands, pain in knees, sore throat, bad skin and stinging eyes.
I’ve put it down to extreme stress- which was the case for some time for various reasons. However- the symptoms don’t get better even when I sleep eat well and avoid stress. I don’t feel depressed just totally exhausted and unwell.
The gp did blood tests a year ago and the full blood count was a little low and liver not working that well- otherwise all good.
Went back today and they’ve asked me to repeat bloods for b12, CRP, Ferritin, Glucose, LFT, rheumatoid factor, TSH, urea-creat, electrolytes.
So here are my Qs-
I’m not sure what any of these are- what are they ruling out/ looking for?
Do I need to worry that what I eat before hand might skew the test?
What will happen if nothing shows up? I’m worried they won’t be able to help me further if everything is clear although obv that’s ideal outcome.
Sorry for ramble!!

Ferritin -is your iron levels
B12 is to check if your are deficient in b12 either through diet or pernicious anaemia which may need treating with b12 injections
LFT -liver function test
TSH-thyroid stimulating hormone
Rheumatoid factor-to check if there is indication of rheumatoid arthritis
Urea-creat, electrolytes is to check kidney function
CRP checks for inflammation markers
Glucose is to see if there is diabetes, although usually they do HBA1C for that these days.

If the glucose says random glucose and not fasting then you can eat and drink as normal. If it says fasting then it’s 12 hours fasting usually so just have water before your test.

If everything comes back ‘normal’ then you need to get a print out to see how much within normal your levels are and have a discussion with the dr where you go from here being as you feel so awful. I would also request Vitamin D blood test.
Hopefully it shows up something simple which can be easily treated-ie iron tablets for low iron or something-so that you can start to feel better.

In fact even if something shows up still go back and ask dr to check Vitamin D levels.

Thank you. Can I just request my results? How do I do that?
Will these things check if I have any issue with my immune system? I just always feel ill and always get colds and viruses back to back

And thank you for taking the time to reply in so much detail- really helpful

Just ask for a print out of your latest blood test results at reception, usually around a week after your blood test, some just hand them straight over, other surgeries have to okay it with the dr. If thing are just within normal range then it may be worth taking supplements anyway as some people only feel well in the top end of normal range rather than low end of normal so it is always handy to get the actual figure and the lab values. For example if the lab rage for B12 is 150-900 where your bloods are tested and your results are 156 it will be marked as “normal” but you may feel better if you supplemented to boost it up towards 600/700 range. Lab ranges vary from lab to lab.

Not specifically immune system but if you are lacking in iron, vit D, B12 etc then you are going to be feeling ill and run down anyway I suppose.

Hope everything turns out okay for you.

Thank you. A friend told me with these symptoms she’d check for chronic fatigue and auto immune issues but I have no idea!! I will ask for the print out- thank you!

Hi OP have you had your full blood counts tested again? If it was a bit low a year ago they should check them again in case they have got any lower.

Yes I’ve had them done now- including the Full blood count . Get results Wednesday - will be interested to see what they say

Let us know what your fbc (red cells, haemoglobin, white cells, neutrophils, platelets) are OP when you get them. Hooe they are okay

Thanks mynameisarthur that’s really supportive. I’m curious - but in a weird way I’m worried that if they show everything as normal I’m no closer to feeling better. So I’m a bit torn

So here are my results. Posting elsewhere too for traffic but any help interpreting anything that might explain my symptoms much appreciated - as according to this its all normal - which is great news but I'd like to be sure there's nothing to be aware of / that I can do to feel better based on these. Thanks!

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All NORMAL but Iron and B12 lower (ish) end of normal. As per my pp I have heard of some people not feeling well until they are in the higher range or normal so supplementing with iron and B12 wouldn’t do any harm to see if you feel any better.

If, after 3 months of high strength supplements and improved diet, you feel no better then you would be perfectly entitled to go back and ask for a retest of your blood tests and ask them to include vitamin D.

I say this as a HCP who has CFS/Fibromyalgia and has high strength vitamin D prescription, B12 injections, prescription iron & thyroxine.

Good to see your fbc is normal. I thought your haemoglobin was slightly high but not enough to worry about.

My gp is going to repeat the test next week.
He wants to re check the RBC/Haemaglobins
Should I ask for any more investigation re thyroid- TSH level is normal but only just and many of my symptoms match a thyroid issue ? Apparently there are other tests that show fuller picture of that

Thats good.

I don't know to be honest about thyroid. There is no harm you asking if you think it might be a good idea.

What I normally do is google/research everythjng online and then compile a list of questions to ask so im prepared. I had blood cancer so it was the full blood counts that i was interested in, so i couldnt tell you about any of the other tests

Well- fav is just above normal -but dr still says not worried. I was terrified of a blood cancer pattern after googling. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had that diagnosis. I’m still terrified it could be to be honest but I’ve got anxiety and don’t know if I’m worrying needlessly. Hopefully a repeated test will clarify

Argh fbc not fav.
Shattered

Thank you. I had a stem cell transplant and am now in remission . I'm no expert but I think if your Dr is not worried then you don't need to worry. They are pretty much on the ball with these things. My doctor sent me off to hospital the day after my blood test came back!

Has your doctor mentioned autoimmune disease?

Nope- he’s convinced I just need to exercise more 😫

Very glad to hear you’re in remission x

With regard to thyroid function - TSH isn’t the best test but your GP is unlikely to agree. If you have the opportunity of doing private tests I would check for thyroid antibodies and Free T3 and Free T4.